FATBMX Your Online BMX News Resource Since 1998

The new season of the UCI Pump Track World Championships is kicking off soon, 4 weeks to go to the first race day!

The below dates are already open for registration:

-Deqing, China on April 29th
-Paris, Texas USA on April 29th
-Fussen, Germany on May 6th
-Middelkerke, Belgium on May 13th
-Hawick, United Kingdom on May 21st
-Saint Laurent de la Salanque, France on May 21st
-Vittoria Bike Park, Italy on May 28th
-Shenyang, China on July 29th
-Loureira, Portugal on July 29th
-Thal, Switzerland on September 2nd
-Isaberg, Sweden on September 9th
-Heipark, Czech Republic on September 16th

A few more races that will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

While in Switzerland for the MXGP we also managed to find a Velosolutions pump track in the town the Grand Prix was held. This one was actually huge and had two sections; one for beginners and a longer one for more advanced users. The fence around it defined the spot and keeps lunatics in cars or other large vehicles out of the pump track. Sounds strange, but we've seen photos.....

Once again the Velosolutions pump track was well designed with no flat sections or misplaced turns. The triple turn was cool as well as you were leaning into that turn three times and generated speed at the same time to jump the three doubles right after it.

It feels like every town now needs a Pump Track. It is in fact a good way to keep rolling. From youngsters to the the old dawgs. It draws new riders into the scene and keeps the veterans on the bikes because they feel they can handle a roller or two. The design is important to keep rolling. If the design fails, pump tracks get boring quickly. There are no challenges left other than the stopwatch. But who rides like that? Pump Tracks ar fun when they are challenging. Can I manualy the entire section, can I clear the jumps, can I find transfers, is that gap possible, can I generate enough speed to go from one line into an other? Can a section be used as a miniramp? Is there a run-up to use a turn as a quarter pipe? Does the pump track offer possibilities for a race? One by one, or two at the same time?

Uganda. 40kms south of Kampala as the crow flies, close enough for a bodaboda ride from Entebbe costing as little as 2,000 shillings, on the shores of Lake Victoria lies the rural village of Zziba. Here lies the story. One of smiles, sport, the development of Kasanje Cycling and making a difference in a small community with support from Pump for Peace.

Pump for Peace is a global initiative from Swiss-based Velosolutions, focused on providing sporting facilities and opportunities in underprivileged communities, making cycling and action sports more accessible than ever before. No matter your race, gender or religion, sport has the power to unite communities around the World, and the charity was founded on this belief.

Philip and I spent a weekend in Switzerland for the MXGP in Frauenfeld. We decided to bring the bikes because we had Sunday off and if we would arrive early enough on Friday we would be able to check out first spot(s). The 8 hour trip went well and we caught enough daylight for us to explore Winterthur. We had checked in at the IBIS in Winterthur and took the bikes out of the van. Google had informed us that a pump track was only 3.1 kms away. It was dry so we decided to ride there. On the way it just felt good to be on the bikes. Traveling by car has its perks as you can take pretty much all you want with you.

We headed in the direction of the pump track and stopped to check the phone from time to time making sure we had not taken a wrong turn. The last bit was a bit desolated and lead through the woods but we managed to find the place. No one was there and on first sight it was a good sized pump track. But something was strange. The concrete/asphalt reminded us on the roughest surface that Romford or Southsea has to offer. It was strange to be on a pump track with such rough surface. Polar opposite of what the Velosolutions pump tracks are like.

We did not bring our helmets/gloves which was stupid but it was just more convenient pedaling to the place like that. Key was to stay on the bike as a crash would definitely scrape you up.

After the incredible showdown last year in Chile with Niels Bensink (NED) and Christa von Niederhäusern (SUI) taking home the rainbow jerseys in Santiago, the 2023 season promises yet another thrilling ride as the best pump track riders in the world line up to battle it out for the first place on the podium. This time around the Velosolutions Pump Track in Neuquén, Argentina, will play host to the 2023 UCI Pump Track World Championships on 18 November. With around 16 to 20 qualifiers lined up for the 2023 season, the stage is set for epic battles on a global level with a qualifier win that gets you all expenses paid trip to Neuquén. Here are the best places to race pump track in April and May.

Paris, Texas USA

PROSTART Factory by Graine de films

Nepal, wedged between the two giants India and China is known for its magnificent temples, monasteries and historical monuments that can be found at almost every turn, with its vibrant cultural heritage, friendly people, unique mix of religions, awe-inspiring array of landscapes and eight of the world’s highest mountain peaks including Mount Everest. Kathmandu has always been one of Claudio Caluori’s main goals for a Pump for Peace project. When he visited the city for the first time in December 2019, he had no idea that it would take 3 years to find the right place, partners or secure land and permits to build the pump track. However, this provided enough time to team up with Crankbrothers for the Red Shoe campaign which was going to facilitate the construction of this track.

The Management Committee of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) met on 2 and 3 February in Hoogerheide (Netherlands). At this meeting, the UCI Management Committee awarded the following UCI World Championships: 2023 UCI Pump Track World Championships. The event will take place on 18 November in Neuquén, a town in the north of Argentinean Patagonia.

In addition, new dates have been set for the following UCI World Championships: 2024 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates): 10-14 December 2024.

It all went down to the wire at the Santa Fe Bike Park in Santiago as 65 riders from 21 countries lined-up to compete for the coveted rainbow stripes this past Saturday in Chile. Switzerland's Christa von Niederhäusern became the first rider in the history of the sport to not only be on the podium for every World Final since 2018, but also becoming a double World Champion after her unbeatable performance to clinch yet another gold medal.

Newcomer from Czech Republic and 2nd placed Sabina Košárková set the fastest time of the day for the Women’s category in 25.334 with Vineta Petersone from Latvia snatching 3rd place from the 2021 World Champion, Aiko Gommers.